Cytokine Pattern in the Macrophages of the Rats Exposed to Sulphur Mustard (Mustard Gas)

Background. Cytokines play a major role in acute and chronic inflammations such as the inflammation caused by Sulphur Mustard (SM). Methods. In this study, response of the macrophages from rats exposed to SM was evaluated for Interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-12 (IL-12), Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF-α) and Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-β). Twelve rats were exposed to 1 dose of SM through inhalation and were then compared with the control group. After 2, 4, and 6 months following the exposure, rats were killed by anesthesia and their splenic and pulmonary macrophages were retrieved. Macrophages were then counted and cultured (1000,000 cells per well) in 24-well microplates for 24 hours at 37 ˚ C and 5% CO2 after 3 times of washing. The supernatant was then evaluated for cytokines using ELISA. Results. After 2 months, no significant difference was reported between the case group and the control group except for IL-6 (P<0.01) while after 4 months, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12 and TGF-β increased significantly in comparison with the control group (P<0.001) with the highest increase in IL-6 (54.6% for splenic macrophages and 64.29% for pulmonary macrophages (P<0.001)). Six months after the exposure, there was a significant differences (P<0.001) in the secretion of all cytokines in both splenic and pulmonary macrophages (P<0/05 for TNF-α). The highest increase was seen in IL-6 which was 84.3% in splenic and 69.83% in pulmonary macrophages (P<0.001).Discussion. Overall, cytokines are secreted more in the group exposed to SM than the control group. Conclusion.We conclude that late complications of SM are in part due to the changes in cytokines levels.